first task completed

Well, a week has passed since the collection from GBS, Christmas is fast approaching and I have been desperate to fit something to the chassis, nothing too onerous or challenging to start with and a spare couple of hours presented themselves this afternoon allowing me to make a start.

So....Steering column bush, looks relatively straightforward and a quick-ish job to do....

Simple task locate rubber grommet into the chassis steering column bracket and in turn insert a nylon collar followed by a further collar to provide a bush for the column to pass through into the engine bay and onto the steering shaft.

Reading other builds some grease/lubricant maybe needed to ease it all into position but it actually went together quite well, the nylon collar being teased into position with the help of a screwdriver easing the rubber grommet over it.

Test fitted the steering column and whilst the column goes into the bush it is not coming through cleanly on the other side which suggests to me the angle of the chassis bracket needs bending slightly towards the cockpit to allow the column to pass through, some reading on other blogs needed to confirm if that is the case.

25 January update - further research suggests the chassis bracket did need bending, duly bent with some brute force, steering column now comes through the bush absolutely fine

Donor Parts Bought

Managed to secure the initial donor parts for the build over the weekend. A short trip up the M6 across to Accrington and £200 later I have acquired:

• 3.92 differential 
• Slot in drive shafts
• Steering column 
• Intermediate Shaft to inner Column 

Also included were the rear drum brakes and prop shaft which are not likely to be used so hopefully I can move these on at a later date.

items came off a 1991 Sierra and whilst collecting the parts could not help but notice the seller had a lovely Haynes Roadster so we ended up having a good chat about kit cars!

So some cleaning up, hammerite painting and general prep work to do prior to installation but pleased to have secured these parts.